A family has been paid over £7,000 after an autistic child missed school for over a year. A council was told to apologise and pay compensation after failing to find a school for the boy.
Worcestershire County Council failed to find an appropriate school for the child for 15 months. The boy, who also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), was told by his school that it was no longer able to meet his needs.
The local government ombudsman said the council must pay £7,500 to the unnamed family for its failings and for the distress caused. A report by the ombudsman said the boy was issued with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) by the county council in June 2020 which included individual support and specific social skills teaching and anxiety management.
